Will black voters stick with Meek or move to Crist? Does it matter?

The New York Times has an interesting story today, highlighting that black voters in Florida may be more pragmatic than SOME thought. They quote several Democrats, saying they are not voting for Rep. Kendrick Meek (D), because they think he can't win and will instead cast their votes for Gov. Charlie Crist (I).

Is this really why the Clinton news was "leaked" -- to give Democrats the permission to vote for Crist.

The Times:

Many of them, like Kevin Roberson, a postal worker from Miami, said they admired Mr. Meek. But when they heard that the former president had talked to Mr. Meek about dropping out to keep the Republican, Marco Rubio, from winning, they said it was time to be practical.

“A vote for Meek is a wasted vote,” Mr. Roberson said as he waited to cast his ballot.

Others agreed. “I would like for him to win, but you know what? He’s behind,” said Betty Chambers, a hospital secretary. “And if Rubio wins, we’re in trouble.”

Strategists from both parties disagree on the likely impact of Mr. Clinton’s effort to single-handedly reshape one of the most closely watched races in the country by giving Democrats permission to sacrifice one of their own.

But one Democratic source told First Read they think this may very well be too little, too late for Crist to win, because two million people have already voted early in Florida.

"None of this really matters much," the source said.

To that point, the latest poll out of Florida, from Mason-Dixon, shows former state House Speaker Marco Rubio (R) with a commanding lead, up 45%-28% over Crist, with Meek pulling just 21%.

"There is simply no mathematical formula by which Crist or Meek can approach Rubio's 45 percent support level," Mason-Dixon pollster Brad Coker told the St. Pete Times.